I've been checking out this site for quite a while ever since i wanted to enter the world of DSLRs! I was hesitating between the 400D and the D80 and i luckily found a D80 display model for the price of a the Canon. That was enough to make my mind up^^

Anyway, i was wondering how and if direct sunlight can damage lenses? I remember my compact not appreciating looking the sun in the eye. After a while a slight pinkish border appeared on the bottom right side of images when i shot videos with my camera.

With a DSLR there's always the shutter (and the mirror) between the sun and the sensor until you press the shutter. As the focus-screen is transparent it will not easily get a hole burnt into it.
So unless you're doing some RSS (=really stupid stuff) like live-view or 1/10 sec shutter speed at fully open aperture, there should be no problem with a DSLR to shoot pictures directly into the sun.
Looky e.g. here:
1/1000sec (!), at F/8 (!)

You also have to remember with SLR's their's a mirror between the lens and your eye, rather than a sensor, so be careful for your own visions sake.

Jake

_________________Jake O'Connell, 40D CrewCanon EOS 40D | 28-135mm IS | 50mm f/1.8 |Vivitar DF 383 | Vivitar 285hvMy Flickrmy Blog"Photography isn't so much about the results as it is the collective experience, your interactions with people and with the world"